At a glance

Your chance to

Visit the finest chateaux in France

Stay in superb hotels, including the Chateau de Chissay

Sample outstanding local cuisine and local wine

At a glance

All hotels have been specially selected for their warm welcome, location and regional cuisine They are classed as premium based on these specifics in addition to the star rating On this trip we use 3 and 4-star hotels, some with swimming pools; all have en suite facilities

5 days cycling (including 2 optional rides) with luggage transfers

85% on quiet tarmac roads, 15% on cycle paths and tracks

The terrain is mainly flat, ideal for first timers

Cycle through idyllic scenery and visit the finest chateaux in France

This is an incredibly relaxed self-guided itinerary, ideal for those who enjoy their food and wine as much as culture and cycling. The distances are kept short, with optional cycling days built in so you have plenty of time to explore the many fabulous chateaux, enjoy long lazy lunches or a lengthy stop at a vineyard. If this isn't enough to tempt you, the setting is beautiful, with rides along the pretty river banks that meander through the countryside. To top it off our hotels are superb and your evening meals will be a highlight!

Cycling profile

Daily distance in km/miles:

Day 2

27.0km/16.8miles

Day 4

37.0km/23.0miles

Day 6

31.0km/19.3miles

Number of days cycling: 5

Pace: Leisurely: 10-13km/6-8miles an hour

Terrain: Low altitude; mostly tarmac

Itinerary

Show detailed itinerary

1Day 1Start Chissay.

If you have arranged to join the transfer we will pick you up from Blois station and take you to Chissay (please see the joining information), where your fabulous chateau hotel awaits. There will be time for a swim before dinner.See more images and videos

2Day 2Cycle along the Cher River to Chateau de Chenonceau; cycle on to St Ouen-les-Vignes via Amboise.

This morning's ride will start with gentle pedalling along the banks of the Cher river which will lead you to the superb Chateau de Chenonceau with its famous arches majestically spanning the river. Described by Flaubert as floating 'on air and water', it's arguably the most beautiful of all the Loire landmarks. It will be difficult to tear yourself away from this beautiful spot so it makes a great stop for lunch on the terrace of the Orangerie restaurant. You will then head off through the shady Amboise forest and on to Amboise - don't worry if you don't have time to explore properly as you can easily come back tomorrow. Your final stretch leads to the elegant village of St Ouen-les-Vignes and Jacques and Odile Arrayet's bijou hotel beside the river. Odile is a professional sommelier, and Jacques an artistic chef de cuisine, so you're in for some treats here!

3Day 3Free day to return to Amboise; or cycle along the River Cisse to Vouvray.

Today is a free day but with Amboise only a 5km cycle south it makes for the perfect day trip. Visit the flamboyant royal palace and the elegant Clos Luce, a 15th Century manor house where Leonardo da Vinci lived and worked for the last few years of his life. His workshops house 40 giant models of some of his most spectacular creations - the first plane, helicopter and tank. The beautifully landscaped gardens bring life to his botanical drawings and geographical designs. Alternatively, it is an easy 15km return cycle along the river Cisse to the wine capital, Vouvray. It is most famous for its wine made from the Chenin Blanc grape. A little way out of Vouvray, the Moncontour Museum gives you the opportunity to visit a winery and some ancient wine cellars; there is the chance to do some comparative wine tasting at the end of the tour.
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Today you have the option of two routes, both offering lovely peaceful cycling. The shorter option takes you via the sleepy village of Limeray, with its lovely white church with impressive collection of statues. Alternatively, you can head north through open countryside to Autreche, there is the opportunity to see a lot of wildlife en-route so keep the binoculars handy! The routes then come together and go on to Chaumont. The impressive 15th Century chateau was built on the site of the original 10th Century castle destroyed by Louis XI for the treasonable acts of it's then owners. Famously Catherine de Medici forced her late husband's mistress, Diane de Poitiers, to give her Chenonceau in exchange for Chaumont. Between May and October, the chateau hosts the International Garden Festival with a different theme each year. A final shady riverside stretch takes you via the pretty villages of Les Montils and Seur and on to Chitenay where you'll spend the next two nights.
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5Day 5Free day to visit the chateau at Cheverny. Alternatively, cycle to Chateau de Chambord.

The 17th Century chateau at nearby Cheverny, with its wonderful white stone facade, makes a great day trip. The richness of its furnishings and antiques are incredible, and the gardens are superb. The chateau has an interesting history, as if out of a regal soap opera, including intrigue and murder. Its latter history has been a little less dramatic but the chateau kept its place on the main stage by being used as a model for Marlinspike Hall which features in some of the Tintin adventures. There is a permanent Tintin exhibition open for viewing. Alternatively, if you head a little further afield you can visit the magnificent Chateau de Chambord, it is a 50km round trip, so makes a perfect day trip. Set in the heart of the huge Foret de Boulogne, this 16th Century masterpiece appears straight from a fairytale, and reflects the lavish tastes of its original owner, King Francois I. Today, the surrounding park has been declared a national nature reserve, protecting all sorts of wildlife including deer, boar and eagles.

6Day 6Cycle via Fougeres-sur-Bievre and along the Cher River to Montrichard; then ride onto Chateau de Chissay for a well-earned dip in the pool!

After breakfast your ride will head south past well-tended vines and sleepy hamlets surrounded by fields of sunflowers. We recommend stopping for lunch on the terrace beside the fortified chateau of Fougeres-sur-Bievre, before cycling downhill to the River Cher. Here the charming old quarter of mediaeval Montrichard is huddled beneath the 11th Century keep. The town has a definite mediaeval feel to it, particularly in some of the buildings in the square. You can sit here, enjoy a coffee and admire the half-timbered houses. The castle dominates the town and is famous for imprisoning Richard the Lionheart. A final flat cycle follows the Cher back to Chateau du Chissay for a well earned dip in the pool!
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7Day 7End Chissay.

A transfer has been arranged to take you back to Blois station. See the joining information for more details.See more images and videos

Your images

Self-guided

Why not enjoy some independence, with the flexibility of a self-guided holiday? You'll benefit from our quality research and support, but you can pace your holidays as you wish.

Activity level

You are healthy, enjoy the outdoors and want a relaxing trip. No experience is required.

What's included

What's included

All breakfasts and dinners

All accommodation (see below)

Local bike hire

All luggage transfers

Route notes and maps

What's not included

Travel insurance

Single accommodation (available on request -compulsory supplement from GBP228)

Visas or vaccinations

Flights from London (available on request)

Arrival & departure transfers (available on request)

Accommodation details

Hotels

On this trip you will stay in a number of 3 and 4 star hotels, some have swimming pools and all have en suite facilities. All hotels have been specially selected for their warm welcome, location and regional cuisine. They are classed as premium based on these specifics in addition to the star rating.

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa
No visa required for British passport holders.
There are no specific health risks. Holiday style

This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodations, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next.
It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked. Where possible we stick to cycle tracks and quiet roads to make the journeys as pleasant as possible, however, on occasion we have to use busier routes.
As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The routes notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the hotels are normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Activity Level 1
Av. daily ride: 32km (20 miles). Please note that the average distance given here is the average of the shortest routes. Alternative routes, which are longer distances, are also shown in the detailed route notes that are provided before departure.
No. of days cycling: 5 (including 2 optional rides).
Terrain & route: the suggested cycling mainly follows quiet tarmac roads with a few sections on dirt roads. The terrain is mainly undulating but the distances are kept relatively short to give you lots of time to enjoy the scenery. Alternative routes are available on some days and are detailed in the route notes.

Eating & drinking

6 breakfasts and 6 dinners included. This is a gastronomic tour so the food is central to your experience.

The Loire prides itself on it's cuisine. It is refined country cooking, not heavy but rich in flavours and textures, drawing on the great garden of the Loire valley. Fruit and vegetables abound. Asparagus, artichokes, button mushrooms, cherries and strawberries from the Loire are transported to kitchens throughout France, which demonstrates the quality of the produce. These all provide delicious accompaniments to the duck, venison and wild boar dishes (all hunted locally) and served in sauces using wines from the local vineyards. Fish also features in abundance. With three wide, gently flowing rivers passing through the region, freshwater fish appear on most menus. 'Sandre' (pikeperch) and breme (bream) are especially popular and are usually served in a beurre blanc sauce - made with shallots, butter, dry white wine and vinegar.
The majority of the cheese found in the region is goat's cheese. We suggest trying Selles-sur-Cher from the neighbouring Blesois region.
Desserts are often based on the fruit from the local orchards. They include 'tarte tatin', a yummy caramelised upside-down apple pie - the invention of two absent-minded sisters in their attempt to salvage a dessert they had dropped on the floor.

The Loire is undoubtedly one of Europe's finest wine producing regions with many of the separate wine areas producing red, white, rose and sparkling wines. Distinctive whites include Sancerre, Pouilly-Fume, Vouvray and Muscadet; for reds, try Chinin, Bourgueil and Saumur. Anjou is by far the most popular rose.

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want
to know about this trip, including detailed itinerary and full kit list.

Weather & seasonality

The Loire valley is blessed with fantastic weather for cycling. The spring and autumn seasons experience mild climates with temperatures averaging 16-20degC. The summers are generally warmer with temperatures reaching the high 20s. There is always the chance of rain so it is best to be prepared for this with a waterproof layer, it is also good to have a warmer layer for the early mornings and evenings.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Questions about your trip

Pick your question

What if I want to take a day off cycling?

Then you will need to make your own way to the next hotel by public transport, or pay for a taxi. Please remember you will also have your bikes, which need to be safely transported as well. You can also phone the local taxi company (details in route notes) who transport your luggage, and see if they can give you a lift. Please note this may not always be possible.

How is my luggage transferred between hotels?

Usually by a local representative or a taxi company. You will need to leave your luggage at the hotel reception between 08:00hrs and 10:00hrs on days of hotel change - the route notes you receive with your final documents will confirm the exact time. It must be marked with the luggage labels (provided by Exodus or at the start hotel), CLEARLY VISIBLE, showing your name and the total number of bags that you are having transferred.

Exodus staff - expertise on hand to help

All the staff at Exodus share a passion for adventure travel, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have. You can find an expert for the area you are interested in here and can contact them to get further information. If you don't see your specific country listed, please email customerops@exodus.co.uk and they will get the answers you need!

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